Endodontist vs. Orthodontist: Which Specialist Do You Need?

Should you see an endodontist or an orthodontist? Well, that’s a good question. Both specialists are here to boost your dental health, but they tackle very different problems. Choosing the right one can make all the difference in getting the best care for your dental concern. Let’s break it down so you can confidently book the right appointment and get the treatment you need.

Who Is an Endodontist?

An endodontist is a dental expert who specializes in saving teeth by addressing issues that occur inside the tooth. If you have severe tooth pain, deep decay, or an infection, an endodontist is the specialist you should see. Their main job is to take care of the tooth’s pulp, which is the soft tissue inside your tooth that has nerves and blood vessels.

Endodontists are dentists first, but they go through an extra two or three years of specialized training in diagnosing and treating problems inside the tooth. They really know their stuff when it comes to pain management and keeping your teeth intact, making them the top choice for saving your natural teeth whenever they can.

What Does an Endodontist Do?

Endodontists focus on treatments that help ease pain and keep your natural teeth intact. Here are some of the dental procedures they carry out:

• Root Canal Procedure: Root canal therapy is probably the most recognized procedure that endodontists do. During this treatment, the endodontist takes out the infected or damaged dental pulp from inside your tooth. They then clean and disinfect the area, fill it up, and seal it to prevent further infection. This procedure can help ease pain, save the tooth from extraction, and restore its function.
• Endodontic Retreatment: If a tooth that’s already had a root canal gets reinfected or starts acting up again, endodontists can do what’s called endodontic retreatment. So, what happens is that they’ll reopen the tooth, take out the old filling material, clean and disinfect the canals again, and then they’ll refill and seal the tooth up.
• Apicoectomy (Surgical Root Canal): An apicoectomy is a small surgical procedure that helps address ongoing infections or inflammation at the tip of a tooth’s root. The endodontist starts by making a tiny cut in the gum to get to the root tip. They then take out the infected tissue and seal up the end of the root to keep any more problems from happening.
• Treatment of Dental Trauma: Endodontists really know their stuff when it comes to handling dental trauma, like cracked or chipped teeth. They can help save damaged teeth by making sure they stay functional and healthy.
• Treating Dental Abscesses: If an infection spreads to nearby tissues, it can lead to a painful dental abscess. Endodontists handle abscesses by draining the infection and tackling the root cause, usually with root canal therapy or surgery, to get rid of the infection and ease the pain.
• Internal Bleaching: If a tooth gets discolored from trauma or other reasons, endodontists can do internal bleaching to brighten it up from the inside. This process includes putting a bleaching agent inside the tooth to enhance its look.

Endodontists perform special procedures that help save teeth, ease pain, and bring back dental health so clients can keep their natural teeth for as long as they can. 

When Should You See an Endodontist?

Not every toothache requires a root canal, but some issues definitely need a specialist’s attention. Here are some signs that indicate it’s time to schedule a visit:

• You Have Severe and Persistent Tooth Pain: If you’re dealing with intense, constant tooth pain that doesn’t seem to improve with regular pain relievers, it could be a sign of an infection or some damage within the tooth. An endodontist can figure out what’s causing the pain and offer the right treatment to help relieve it.
• Your Tooth is Extremely Sensitive to Hot or Cold: If your teeth feel super sensitive to hot or cold foods, even after you’ve stopped eating, it could mean that the dental pulp is damaged or inflamed. An endodontist can take a look at what’s going on and treat the underlying issue to reduce sensitivity.
• You Have Swollen or Tender Gums Near a Tooth: If you notice swelling or tenderness in your gums around a specific tooth, it might be a sign of an infection or abscess. Endodontists are the go-to experts for handling infections inside your tooth. They can carry out procedures to get rid of the infection and help save your tooth.
• You Have a Discolored Tooth: If a tooth has darkened or looks discolored, especially after getting hurt, it might have some internal damage. An endodontist can take a look at how bad the damage is and suggest ways to get your tooth back to good health and looking great.
• You Have a Cracked or Injured Tooth (Dental Trauma): If you have a dental injury like a cracked, chipped, or knocked-out tooth, an endodontist can help you out with emergency care. They can fix the damage, do root canal therapy if necessary, and make sure the tooth heals the right way.
• You Had a Root Canal, but Your Tooth Still Hurts: Every now and then, teeth that have gone through a root canal treatment can develop new problems or infections. An endodontist can help with retreatment or other procedures to tackle these issues and keep your tooth intact.
• You Have an Abscess or Infection: If you see a bump on your gums that looks like a pimple, it might be an abscess, which is basically a pocket of pus from an infection. An endodontist can help with the infection and stop it from spreading, keeping your overall health in check.

If you experience any of these symptoms or conditions, schedule an appointment with an endodontist to get the specialized care you need.

Who Is an Orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a dental expert who specializes in diagnosing, preventing, and correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. If your teeth are a bit crooked, crowded, or just not lining up right, an orthodontist is the go-to expert who can help you out!

Orthodontists, much like endodontists, need to go through extra specialized training after dental school. They spend about two to three years in residency for orthodontics, really honing their skills in aligning teeth and jaws.

What Does an Orthodontist Do?

Orthodontists specialize in treatments that move teeth into the right position and improve jaw alignment. Here are some common procedures they carry out:

• Traditional Metal Braces: Braces are super popular when it comes to orthodontic treatments. They use metal brackets and wires to slowly shift teeth into the right position. Braces are great for fixing all sorts of alignment problems, like crooked teeth, overcrowding, and gaps between teeth. They can also fix bite issues like overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
• Clear Braces: Clear or ceramic braces are a great option if you’re looking for something less noticeable than traditional metal braces.  They’re especially popular with older teens and adults who want to straighten their teeth without drawing too much attention. They function much like traditional metal braces, using tooth-colored brackets that are fixed to the teeth with wires that slowly tighten to help guide the teeth into the right position.
• Clear Aligners: Clear aligners, like Invisalign, are a great alternative to traditional braces. These custom-made, removable trays snugly fit over your teeth and gently move them into the perfect position over time. Clear aligners are super discreet. You can take them out when you eat, drink, or clean your teeth. That’s why so many people love them as a treatment option!
• Retainers: Once you’re done with braces or Invisalign, your orthodontist usually recommends retainers to keep your teeth in their new positions. Retainers can either be removable or fixed (bonded to the back of your teeth). They’re really important for keeping your teeth from moving back to where they started.
• Palatal Expanders: Palatal expanders are devices used to widen the upper jaw. This treatment is commonly used for kids who have jaws that are a bit too narrow. The expander works by widening the jaw, which gives teeth more room to grow correctly. They can also help fix bite problems.
• Space Maintainers: If a child loses a baby tooth too early, a space maintainer can be used to keep that space open until the permanent tooth comes in. This helps keep the nearby teeth from moving into the gap and creating alignment problems.
• Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery): For severe cases of jaw misalignment, orthodontists may team up with oral surgeons to carry out orthognathic surgery. This surgery helps fix how the jaws and teeth line up, making them work better and look nicer. It usually goes hand in hand with orthodontic treatment to get the best results.
• Treatment of Malocclusions: Orthodontists help with multiple types of malocclusions, which are basically improper bites. These include overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites. Fixing these bite issues not only makes your smile look better but also helps you chew and speak more easily.

Orthodontists use a bunch of different methods to help straighten teeth and correct jaw alignment, leading to healthier, more attractive smiles. 

When Should You See an Orthodontist?

There are a bunch of reasons to check in with an orthodontist, especially if you’re worried about how your teeth line up or how your bite feels. Here are some signs that indicate it’s time to schedule a visit:

• • When Your Child Is 7 Years Old or Older: The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and our very own Dr. Kelson recommend scheduling your child’s first visit around the age of seven. At this stage, an orthodontist can catch potential problems early and guide jaw growth, making future treatment easier and more effective.
  • When Your Teeth Are Crooked or Misaligned: If your teeth look a bit crooked or out of line, it’s a good idea to check in with an orthodontist. You can get your teeth straightened with braces or clear aligners, which will not only make your smile look better but also boost your confidence and oral health.
  • You Have a Bite Problem: Your bite refers to how your upper and lower teeth align when you close your mouth. If your bite isn’t quite right, it may cause jaw pain, uneven wear on your teeth, trouble when chewing, and even issues with breathing properly. An orthodontist can help figure out and fix those tricky bite issues, like overbites, underbites, crossbites, or open bites, making sure your teeth and jaws are in the right place.
  • You Have Crowded Teeth: If there’s not enough room in your mouth for all your teeth, they might end up getting crowded and overlapping each other. This can make it difficult to clean your teeth properly, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Orthodontic treatment can create the necessary space and align your teeth correctly.
  • You Have Gaps Between Teeth:  Having large gaps or spaces between your teeth can affect how your smile looks and how well your mouth works. An orthodontist can help close those gaps, making your teeth look better and giving you a more even bite.
  • You Find It Difficult to Chew or Bite: If you’re having a hard time chewing or biting your food, it could be because your teeth are misaligned or there are some bite issues going on. Visiting an orthodontist can help with these issues, making it easier and more comfortable to eat.
  • You Have Jaw Pain or Clicking Sounds: If you’re experiencing jaw pain, along with any clicking or popping sounds when you open or close your mouth, it could be a sign of a misaligned jaw or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.  An orthodontist can take a look at these symptoms and help with treatment to ease any discomfort and enhance how your jaw works.
  • You Had Braces Before, but Your Teeth Have Shifted: Your teeth can move around as time goes by, especially if you haven’t been using your retainer after your treatment. If your smile, which used to be nice and straight, is starting to shift, an orthodontist can definitely help get your teeth back in line before things get worse.

• You Want a Faster Way to Straighten Your Teeth: Traditional braces and aligners can take a couple of years, but Kelson Orthodontics offers Accelerated Smiles, a cutting-edge treatment that can straighten your teeth up to twice as fast! It works with your body’s natural biology to move teeth in half the time! It works with your body’s natural biology to shift teeth more effectively—keeping discomfort to a minimum and saving you from extra trips to the office.

If you’re dealing with any of these problems, it might be a good idea to set up a consultation with an orthodontist. At Kelson Orthodontics, we provide tailored treatment options for kids, teens, and adults—making it easier for you to get your best smile in less time and with added comfort!